The Millicent Magistrates’ Court had 66 matters for consideration when it convened last Thursday. A significant number related to drink driving and street offences.

The court is convening every two months in 2021 following a review last year undertaken by the Courts Administration Authority.

The Millicent court previously met for decades on a monthly basis when 35 cases was a typical list.

The magistrate is set to preside at the George Street courthouse on just four more occasions in 2021 on June 16, August 25, October 21 and December 16.

The administration of justice at Millicent was disrupted for much of 2020 as the local courthouse was closed due to COVID-19 protocols.

Applicable social distancing measures could not be achieved in the cramped courtroom which is occupied by the magistrate, court and security staff, prosecution and defence counsel and the defendants.

Certain COVID-19 protocols now applied at the Millicent Courthouse including a limit of six persons in the public gallery and six in the waiting area.

The Courts Administration Authority has been asked by The SE Voice about the frequency of the Millicent hearings given the record number of cases on the April list.

Meanwhile, the adjacent Millicent police station remains without a civilian office manager pending a new appointment.

The opening hours have been temporarily cut back with routine administrative duties now undertaken by uniformed police officers when available.